Stapleford has a bit of an odd atmosphere thats for sure. The receptionists are incredibly busy so I'd never expect them to be interested in general chit chat - I think it depends on the day and the mood they're in as to what level of customer service you get. I know people have mentioned that we're not training at these places for the customer service, we're there to train. I would agree with this comment if it wasn't for one major consideration - the price we pay. When I'm paying £148 an hour dual I expect to get a polished product for my money.
Stapleford, as any other flight school, is selling a product. If I don't like the product my money walks. I trained with Stapleford on and off for about two years and always felt that for the money I paid I wasn't receiving an adequate product. As a result I moved. I'm now training at a school which charges £118/hour dual and makes me make my own tea and coffee. The difference however is that when I pay that £118 after each lesson I feel like I'm getting value for money where as at Stapleford I merely felt like just another PPL there to top up the money pot.